Matts Pettersson with Leaders in the Chute

Matts Pettersson of Kiruna, Sweden has completed his sixth Iditarod in 20th place. Petterssen has played Professional Hockey as a goalie but had to give up the sport after a serious snow machine accident.  After the accident he focused completely on the dogs and since has worked full time with his sled dog company, Kiruna Sleddog Tours.  Matts has run Norway’s Finnmarksløpet seven times.   The Finnmark race, Norway’s longest Sled dog racing event cover 1,200 km.

Matts Passes out Snacks

Matts’ best Iditarod time came in the 2017 on the Fairbanks to Nome route – 9 days, 10 hours and 0 minutes for 25th place.  His best Iditarod finish came in 2018 at 18th place.

Matts helped Linwood Fiedler out when Fiedler’s gangline broke and his dogs went down the trail.  Matt’s picked Linwood up and towed the sled along the trail until they caught up with the Fiedler’s team.